Subject: What is this Geographic location of the bug: Pennsylvania Date: 01/15/2019 Time: 11:26 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: What type of bug is this found it in a wall of a house How you want your letter signed: Quinnell

Silverfish

Dear Quinnell, You have Silverfish, a common household pest. According to BugGuide: “often found indoors in warm, damp environments; the Common Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) is frequently seen in bathrooms and kitchens, whereas the Firebrat (Thermobia domestica) is usually found in basements around furnaces and in insulation around hot water and heating pipes; these and other species also occur outdoors under bark, in leaf litter, caves, ant nests, deserts, etc” and preferred foods include “omnivorous: starchy foods, cereals, moist wheat flour, glue on book bindings and wallpaper, starch in clothing made of cotton or rayon fabric; outdoor individuals eat lichens.”

Subject: Uninvited classmate Geographic location of the bug: Northeast Pennsylvania Date: 01/14/2019 Time: 11:46 AM EDT Your letter to the bugman: We found this bug in our Kindergraten classroom and would like to know what it is and if there’s a chance that we could find more. It was 10 degrees this morning, we doubt it came from outside. Thanks! How you want your letter signed: Ruthie

Bed Bug

Dear Ruthie, This sure looks like a Bed Bug to us. Is there a place where your kindergarten students take a nap? You might want to closely inspect any upholstered furniture or bedding in that area. Hopefully, this was a newly introduced individual that has not had a chance to become established in your classroom, but it is best to err on the side of caution and inspect the location in question and possibly have a professional in to make an assessment. Bed Bugs will bite and suck the blood of sleeping individuals, and Bed Bugs have evolved to help them avoid detection, making infestations more and more common in recent years.

Dear Mr. Marlos,

Thank you for your quick response. I will let our principal know so the proper measures can take place to protect our students.

I found What’s that Bug website to be very informative. I have been reading it for few years now, it’s a great resource.

Subject: Doesn’t look like a carpet bug, but that’s where they were found! Geographic location of the bug: Manchester, UK Date: 12/18/2018 Your letter to the bugman: Can anyone I identify this little fella, found many of them in the carpet but they don’t appear to look like any imaged of carpet bugs I found on: Anthony

Giant Conifer Aphid

Dear Anthony, While we suspect the answer is “yes” we would like to confirm that you had a live Christmas tree in the house. This is a Giant Conifer Aphid, and folks with live trees are often quite surprised to learn their tree was infested with Aphids that begin leaving the tree when it begins to dry out. These Giant Conifer Aphids are a nuisance inside the home, but they will not damage your home or its furnishings, unless you have other live coniferous houseplants.

Subject: found on couch Geographic location of the bug: Connecticut Date: 12/19/2018 Your letter to the bugman: I found this on our couch. It appears to have wings but has not flown. How you want your letter signed: nicely?

Varied Carpet Beetle

This is a Carpet Beetle, probably a Varied Carpet Beetle, Anthrenus verbasci, and it is a common Household Pest. Though adults feed on pollen and will not do any damage in the home, the larvae of Carpet Beetles will feed on a wide variety of organic materials in the home, including shed pet hair. While they are mostly just a nuisance, they will also feed on woolen fibers found in carpets and upholstery.

Subject: The pumpkin seed looking bug Geographic location of the bug: Brownsville TX Date: 12/23/2018 Time: 10:54 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: I have seen these things several times and at first thought it was a pumpkin seed, but as it began to crawl I figured it sooooo was NOT one!! I could really use your help, never seen one befor,. They just began appearing inside house, not all move though. I have tried looking them up, but have not found anything that might help. I also have a video of it moving. Thanks… How you want your letter signed: Odette

Case Bearing Moth Larva

Dear Odette, Because others have also compared its appearance to a pumpkin seed, we suspected correctly from your subject line that you were inquiring about a Case Bearing Moth Larva, a common household intruder found globally. In the home, they often feed on debris like shed pet hair, but they are also known to feed on pet foods and other organic materials.

Subject: Found four of these in my house Geographic location of the bug: Northern westchester. South salem new york Date: 12/22/2018 Time: 03:09 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: I found one dead on A sweater in my drawer, another on the steps and two more. They are hard shelled. Please see if you can identify. How you want your letter signed: Roberts

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Dear Roberts, While your image is quite blurry, we are confident this is a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, an Invasive Exotic species from Asia that is now established across North America. Invasive Exotic species often proliferate as they have no natural enemies. They are also Household Pests since they seek shelter indoors to escape our cold winters. Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs pose a significant threat to agriculture since, according to BugGuide, they are “Highly polyphagous, reported on ~300 plant spp. in its native range; feeds mostly on fruit, but also on leaves, stems, petioles, flowers, and seeds. Damage typically confined to fruiting structures.” Indoors they are a nuisance, but they will not damage your home nor its furnishings.